Charges in Mass. jump rope assault dismissed

Updated: Sep 13, 2013 - 7:12 AM

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Charges in Mass. jump rope assault dismissed

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (AP) — Prosecutors have dropped the remaining charges against two homeless people from Northampton who had been accused of wrapping a jump rope around a 9-year-old girl's neck and then tying the other end to a tree.

Northwestern
District Attorney David Sullivan said in a statement Thursday that his
office did not have enough evidence and "did not reasonably anticipate
being able to prove the allegations."

Lance Gouvan and Megan Bonny had originally been charged with attempted murder and kidnapping for allegedly attacking the girl in Northampton in July 2012. Those charges were dropped about a year ago.

Prosecutors on Thursday dropped assault and battery charges.

Lawyers for the pair had described the girl as "troubled."

Gouvan says the accusations have ruined his reputation as an activist for the area's homeless.